(Caffeinated) Knitting keeps me (chemically) balanced.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?I love sock yarn...any sock yarn! I'm also a big fan of Dale of Norway (Heilo and Baby Ull)…most any worsted weight or finer wool. I'm not crazy about chunky/bulky, fun fur, novelty and acrylic yarns and haven't been "bitten" by the cotton dish cloth craze2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?Most of my needles are stored in their original packaging in plastic, zippered pencil cases/pouches for 3-ring binders. My DPNs are in a great case that 3rd Daughter gave me. 3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?taught myself to knit January 2003 while on winter break from my Business Masters classes. The first thing I knit was a Harry Potter scarf for my niece's birthday. Until last year, it was the only scarf I'd knit. My next project was a pair of socks and I have been consumed by knitting (especially sock knitting) ever since. My first sweater project was an Alice Starmore. Socks and stranded knitting is my passion. Other knitters consider me an advanced knitter though I believe that there are ALWAYS new things to be learned.4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?I have a Wish List "photo album" and an Amazon wish list on my sidebar. 5. What's your favorite scent?Rosemary, mint, anything "citrus" (especially grapefruit) or labeled "refreshing". I am ALLERGIC to lavender- that eliminates anything labeled "calming" or "relaxing".6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?Not so much a sweet tooth but definitely a "salty" jones. For me it's all about chocolate covered nuts (or fruit). I love dark chocolate truffles; especially the ones with raspberry or other fruity fillings or the liquor variety such as Grand Marnier. (How else do you think I relax!?!)7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?I do a bit of scrap booking/card making. I used to quilt but now mainly open my sewing machine to make clutches, purse liners and other utilitarian projects. I'm afraid to learn to spin: it fascinates me but I fear that, once I learned, I'd be consumed by it and would lose "valuable" knitting time.8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)I can play MP3s but I DO have strong personal feelings about breaking copyright laws. As to music, I am mostly stuck in the 80's; Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Aerosmith, Def Leppard. I also like Will Smith, Gwen Stefani, INXS, Indigo Girls...some new age, jazz (Harry Connick Jr, Manhatten Transfer) and have been known to sneak a bit of country (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Heather Wilson, Texas) into the CD rack.9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?My favorite colors are purple, blue, fuschia, and red. Back when having your color analyzed was in vogue, I was told that I'm a "winter". I am NOT fond of "fall" colors- rust, gold, tan, brown. It's pretty to look at out the window, but I don't have it (nor want it) in my wardrobe. It makes me look "ill".10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?My DH and I celebrated our 20th anniversary last August. We have two daughters- ages 9 and 15, and a dog.11. Do you wear scarves (occasionally), hats (frequently), mittens (in the winter...ALWAYS), or ponchos (NEVER)?

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?Socks, stranded items such as those by Dale of Norway, Ron Schweitzer, and Alice Starmore, mittens, socks, Gansey sweaters and (did I mention?) socks.13. What are you knitting right now?The Knit Picks Fair Isle Cardigan, socks (always), baby socks (for 40 Days for Others), and mittens (for gifts).14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?Sometimes, it depends on the giver and the gift.15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?Crystal Palace 6" DPNs and Addi-Turbo circs16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?I'm a lucky gal whose DH gave her both.17. How old is your oldest UFO?The Knit Picks Fair Isle Cardigan that I started on August 12, 200618. What is your favorite holiday?St. Nicholas (Dec. 6th) is my favorite because not everyone celebrates it and you can give/receive Christmas-related items and enjoy them all month. It's not at all commercialized and it pays tribute to my Dutch roots. I am also a huge fan of Mardi Gras and the 4th of July.19. Is there anything that you collect?Sheep, of course. But especially Shaun the Sheep from Wallace & Gromit.20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?If there are, I'll be sure to make sure that they are in my Wish Lists. I subscribe to Interweave Knits and Schoolhouse Press' WoolGathering21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?I may attempt to tackle a large lace project soon, but not until #17 is completed.22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?Quick answer: yes- see #12. Long answer: read my blog.23. When is your birthday? Feb 28th...you've missed it this time around.

My sock model returned; socks look SO much better when they have a real foot in them! The decision was to begin the cuff at this point. So tonight the cuff; now to decide which kind of cuff to give this baby.

Today has been filled with happy returns; it's my birthday. There have been lots of birthday greetings in Henry's inbox. Tonight will be dinner at one of my favorite places with tiramisu for dessert. Forget birthday cake...give me tiramisu! Then it's time for opening gifts. (I sense a bit of yarn goodness!)

But, by far, the best gift was a happy return...my parents have been on the road since January 10th. Yesterday morning they were in Tulsa, OK and by midnight last night they were home in WI...just in time for my birthday! (Now I know where I get my "push on through" driving attitude/stamina from!)

Panda is psyched to have her afterschool pitstop back. For the past 6 weeks she's had to hang out in the school library between school and activities instead of having an hour respite at Grandma's house. It took her NO TIME to get back into the routine! (She's wearing a turquoise studded cap that Grandma brought from AZ...Panda LOVES turquoise!)

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Tomorrow is the end of the month. My sweater isn't finished, the pair of mittens still needs thumbs, and as far as socks....well, the current pair won't be finished by Wednesday night's witching hour.

I'm left wondering: do baby booties count as completed socks? One pair last week, and this pair could be finished tomorrow. Can I count them for SAM3? One of this month's Socktopia themes is "short and sweet". They are short and baby things are definitely sweet. Does that count?

The new sock design is growing nicely. (The photo would be nicer with a foot to model the sock. Unfortunately, there aren't any available.) However, even with as fast as I knit, the pair won't be completed by tomorrow night.

Monday, February 26, 2007

...from Henry's new digs. Having Henry in the living room was a bit distracting. With each new email, Henry "called out" to let me know there was something in my inbox. I couldn't resist checking, like Pavlov's dog. Time for Henry to move into the work/study/craft room. This will be a much set up for all involved.

The new sock is progressing nicely. Last night's late ending to the Oscar show meant that I am ready to get started on the heel tonight. That also means this is the only time you'll see this particular sock on MY foot. Most of my recipients do NOT have size 11 feet. I am already scheming as to which skein of sock yarn I'll use to make a pair of these for ME.

AND...I already have my 30 minutes of charity knitting in for today. I cast on a new pair of booties. I've wanted to knit these since I first saw the pattern in the Summer 2005 issue of Interweave Knits. Better than Booties by Ann Budd. First up, the Cable Rib Socks using the leftover Lorna's Laces from Coach's socks. My hope is that the heel is better than the white pair!

One last snowy photo for all of you. It really was pretty this morning! The temps were in the upper 30's(F) today, so it is already showing signs of melting. Though the photo was taken from our deck, from where I now sit with Henry, I look down on this group of trees. With a view like this, I'm glad Henry has a new place to hang out!

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Still no blizzard, but plenty of snow. It's still coming down. The plows and Doogie seem to be keeping up with the steady rise. Thankfully, the winds died down LONG before the snow started to accumulate.

The snow is pretty at this point and, because it's February, the knowledge that it shouldn't be around for "months" makes it all the more enjoyable to look at. (Thursday we are supposed to have 41 degrees and rain...welcome to Wisconsin!)

"Third time's the charm" they say. I'd agree. After ripping the sock apart three times while trying to replicate someone else's designs with Fixation, I dug through my stitch calendar and a couple of toe-up instructions and came up with my own design. So far, the progress is very pleasing.

I can't decide if it makes me think more of spring or rainbow sherbet. In either case, it makes me smile.

Note: Love Bowls didn't get snowed out this year. Doogie and Panda worked this morning while I stayed home with KC. She has developed a healthy cold: soup with a side of "snot" would NOT have encouraged donations.

Yesterday they hyped and hyped about the pending blizzard. Predictions of 10-20 inches of snow. High winds. Flights were cancelled. Grocery stores were busy. (Milk, bread, eggs = french toast video) We even made sure we had everything we needed to hunker down on Sunday.

This morning we woke to snow, but NOT a blizzard! When I was kid, snowstorms "turned into" blizzards; they did not "predict" blizzards. Yet, again, they got it wrong. Last year's February storm was far worse than this one.

Next up: The Knitting. Though I'd hoped to have the sleeves finished by this weekend, I'm still happy with how far they are.

The first pair of baby booties are finished for 40 Days for Others. They are cute, but I wasn't crazy about the heel instructions. So modifications will be needed for the next pair.

Since Sundays are a "free day" (Lent is 40 days, not including Sundays) and my size 1 needles are free for the day, it was time to tackle my mother's attempt to give me a challenge. For Christmas, she gave me two skeins of Cascade Fixation. She thought I needed the challenge of a yarn that was elastic so that I could "play" with something that might mess with my gauge. Boy, was she right!

First, I tried to find a pattern. Cascade has a number of them. But since Trek broke her foot, I thought that I'd try her pattern. Cast on 64 stitches on US 1.5...WAY TOO BIG! Cast on 64 stitches on US 1...still too big, but not awful. Cast on 60 stitches on US 1...just right.

Knit 2, purl 2. Knit 2, purl 2. Knit 2, purl 2. Sorry Trek, I know you're feeling poorly, but I am headed to the frog pond for the third time. There is only so much knit 2 purl 2 that this girl can handle.

Back to the drawing board. Oh, quick note, hint, tip: Fixation is NOT a center pull ball. DO NOT attempt to center pull this puppy. It is wound SO tightly, the only way to get to the middle is to work from the outside in towards the middle.

Now, back to the chair and waiting for more snow. At least the weather predictors are saying there should be more. What do they know!?! Blizzard my butt. Who wants French Toast!?!

Saturday, February 24, 2007

This week was warm. By yesterday, the snow had melted away. This morning, we woke to 3 inches of new snow. However, according to the doomsday prophets weathermen, we should wake Sunday morning to a blizzard.

We shoveled this morning and by afternoon the driveway was nearly "dry". Sunday, we'll see what we end up with.

The sad news is that Sunday is supposed to be our annual Love Bowls event. If there really is a blizzard, it will be terrible for Meals on Wheels.

The good news is that I was supposed to be in Vegas this weekend visiting my parents (Mom's birthday was Friday) while they are on the road. Fate decided to change that plan and now it appears that if I HAD headed out of town for the weekend, I may not have been able to get back.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

It's the first of the baby booties for 40 Days for Others. Proportionately, it appears to be the appropriate size. It's been a LONG time since there was a baby in our house. But this bootie looks right as far as it fitting in the palm of the mitten.

Once there is a second bootie for with this one, I will start playing around with colors. For this "test" bootie, plain Jane white was fine.

The mitten, after finishing the bootie, was next. Both are now finished and in need of thumbs. Thumbs need a fresh brain; something I don't have anymore today!

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Ash Wednesday...the beginning of Lent...and the beginning of 40 Days for Others KAL. I'll be knitting for Care Wear; specifically for the hospital Doogie works at. There is another similar KAL; Lint for Lent. This one, though not supporting any specific charities, suggests knitting 30 minutes per day for chairty. That is my plan: the first 30 minutes of knitting per day will be for Care Wear. I've never knit baby booties before, but I figure that I can give it a try. I have plenty of leftover Baby Ull for them.

Thankfully, I avoided the temptation to sign-up for Sock Madness. In fact, I would have been "MAD" to sign-up! Soon enough the International Knit-Off will begin and, as much as I enjoy knitting socks, I'd much rather be able to put my attentions towards the competition. (Though knitters never really "compete". Do they, Kristin/Becky/Karin/Sheri!?!)

Speaking of the "competition" and since you asked: The Battle of the Beaded Babes scarf pattern is here (K & B: I wish I could link to the shop) and the kit is here.

The early release of the class schedule for this summer's Stitches Midwest arrived in my email box this week. Early bird registration starts March 8th. Who out there plans to head to Chicago August 9-12th?

Speaking of Chicago...there is a week left for Chicago's Winter Delights Stitching Salon. If you happen to be headed that way, say "hello" from me. Can you tell? I'm itching to hit the road!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

A favored day in our house; Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday. Though we live in the Upper Midwest, we feel a bit "southern" on a day like today.

The masks, the beads, and even a "gumbo" tie for Doogie. We make sure to cover our bases.

New Orleans has always been one of my favorite places. I've been there at least five times. In 1998, Doogie joined me there and the girls did in 2005. (We've been there for the Easter parades, but never a Mardi Gras parade.) We all agree we could use a bit more creole in our lives.

Of course, Fat Tuesday means Gumbo and beignets for supper. (Good Friday is always Grandma's potato pancakes. And, I have already "reserved" the date with her.) So there may not be much knitting tonight.

HOWEVER, the Battle of the Beaded Babes has a winner...Kristin is the first of the four to have completed her beaded scarf. (Though knitters NEVER actually compete, right ladies!?!) Kristin's dogs could not be bribed by Sheri to steal the scarf and thereby betray their master. (Cunning attempt, though!) There were four who started these on Saturday and a few more joined in on Sunday. Who will finish next? Will the Midwest be covered in beads? It's Mardi Gras...BEADS is what it's all about!!!!